Chickpea chocolate clusters are only 2 ingredients, no bake, and are a high protein candy high in zinc, which boosts the immune system, as well as magnesium, which boosts mood and helps relax you, and fiber and antioxidants. And variation potential - swap out chickpeas for other nuts or even berries.
Chickpea Chocolate Clusters
This chickpea recipe as chocolate clusters is so easy, no bake, only two ingredients and deliciously energizing. Just roast, dip and freeze.
If you need a fast snack that boosts energy and provides protein and fiber, this is the recipe for you! Plus the ingredients are probably in your pantry right now. Those ingredients, of course, are chocolate, perhaps chocolate chips. I can recommend EnjoyLife brand. And a can of chickpeas, BPA-free, organic. Trader Joes or Whole Foods brand are just that.
Chickpeas are really living their best life, aren't they? Being turned into all kinds of things, hummus (see my 5 minute recipe in my cookbook), cookie dough, pizza crust, and these chocolate clusters.
People have lots of questions about chickpeas these days so I tried to answer a few below.
Questions about Cooking with Chickpeas
- What can I make with chickpeas?
- Just as I said above, you can make so many things with chickpeas, hummus, pizza crust, cookie dough, and even toss them into salads and lasagna and more.
- Are chickpeas good for weight loss
- Yes because chickpeas provide protein and fiber so you feel full longer, and reducing your appetite.
- How do you make chickpeas from scratch?
- If you don't want to use canned, buy a bag of dried chickpeas. Fill a frying pan with about 2 inches of water. Pour in the rinsed beans and bring to a boil, and boil for about 1 minute. Rinse the beans, and put them in a bowl, submerged in clean water. Let them soak for one hour. Rinse, and now you have cooked beans for this recipe or others. Remember, though, this recipe requires that you roast and dry the beans so they are crispy in the chocolate.
- Can you eat chickpeas raw?
- Personally I have not tried but they are edible raw, I just would recommend soaking and roasting.
How I Thought Of Chickpea Chocolate Clusters
Our 10-pound Pomeranian hurt his back this week, and he is typically super cheerful, but when he has a hurt, he becomes very moody and sadly quiet as though his world is ending. Poor thing.
Now this back issue is probably pretty painful, so we are all having to take turns babysitting him when it occurs. Hand-feeding him, handing him his water bowl, coaxing him with cucumbers, putting back his heating pad when he walks off with it, dragging it behind him.
If ever there was a time I needed a fast energy-boosting snack, this was it! (of course THOUGH I would never give chocolate to a dog - NO ONE SHOULD. Chocolate is deadly for dogs.) Anyway, back to me...
So I immediately thought "chocolate". (for ME, never the dog!) Perfect nutritious energizer. But I also needed protein.
Enter chickpeas. Chocolate clusters. Chickpea chocolate clusters.
Oh sure, I know I took a detour earlier to use white beans instead of chickpeas in some conventional recipes. But that doesn't mean I've cooled to chickpea qualities - never! I love the protein and fiber that they deliver.
Chocolate Chickpea Clusters are A Healthy Snack
Chickpeas have been enjoying a reputation in the last few years as being a "superfood".
This popular legume, or bean, is low in fat and sodium, high in protein, fiber, iron, antioxidants. Also high in vitamin K, folate, phosphorus, zinc, choline, and selenium - all of which are often short in traditional diets.
So wrapping them in magnesium-and-antioxidant rich dark chocolate seems like the perfect way to a wholesome easy healthy snack!
The end result is rich dark chocolate and salty interior - no manufactured candy bar can come close in taste or nutrition to this homemade wonder.
How to Make Chickpea Chocolate Clusters
They are so easy to make. Look at my step-by-step image below.
The only time-drag here is you must roast the chickpeas. But that's all, no other prep is needed if you use canned chickpeas.
Roasting The Chickpeas Is What Melts The Chocolate
Pop them in the oven and go do something else while they roast.
But remember, to make the melting magic happen, the chickpeas must go straight from the oven into a bowl of chocolate chips - so plan your schedule accordingly!
You've heard of the rule of the gong? Well, this is the rule of the hot chickpea! Okay, now I'm getting silly, all those puppy-sitting-sleepless nights are getting to me.
Swaps for Chickpeas In These Chocolate Clusters
Of course, there are swaps for the chickpeas. Use your imagination. Almonds, cashews, pecans, raisins, sunflowers. Whatever floats your boat.
Do you want more desserts that contain beans? How about my Edible Cookie Dough?
Consider These Other Chocolate Recipes
- Sugar Cookie Truffles
- Chocolate Spice Truffles
- Easy Truffles Recipe
- Protein Ball Recipes
- Crunch Bars
- Vegan Fudge
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Chickpea Chocolate Clusters
Ingredients
- 1 can (15oz/425gms) chickpeas (I use organic bpa-free brands, including WholeFoods 365)
- 1 cup chocolate chips
Instructions
- Rinse chickpeas and spread them on a foil or parchment-lined quarter-sized cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes. Stir once to make sure undersides are also toasted.
- Pour chocolate chips in a bowl, and pour HOT chickpeas straight from the oven on top of the chocolate chips, stirring to melt them.If you need to, microwave the bowl in increments of 20 seconds until chocolate is melted enough to stir and coat the chickpeas.
- Replace the parchment in the cookie sheet and dollop 1 tbsp of mixture in rows, with 1 inch separation. Chill in refrigerator for one hour.
- They are ready to eat! Store in frig or room temperature, it’s up to you.
Nutrition
Dee Dine is founder of Green Smoothie Gourmet, a plant based recipe blog, and author of the recent cookbook, Crazy Healthy with 4 Ingredients and another immunity-boosting smoothie shot book, 4-Ingredient Smoothies + Juices , due out in January 2021. On this blog you'll find incredibly easy recipes with hidden veggies for anyone wanting to eat healthier, regardless of diet. Dee has graduate degrees in sciences and journalism, editor at The Feedfeed and a nutritional expert at WikiHow. More about Dee Dine here.
Ela Vegan
Chickpeas?! Wow, Dee! You are such a creative chef! I really love the idea of using chickpeas in this amazing easy recipe. Looks super delicious. Much love, Ela 🙂
Dee Dine | Green Smoothie Gourmet
Aww thank you Ela! I love these super fast super few-ingredient recipes! Dee xx
Jess @choosingchia
Fab recipe Dee! There's nothing I love more than something quick, easy, with minimal ingredients, and chocolate!
Dee Dine | Green Smoothie Gourmet
Jess, thank you! Yes, I agree, I love fast easy recipes! Dee xx